Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Rebels Stay Quiet, Walton Audio and More

Monday's KIJHL trade deadline came and went without the Rebels making any moves. Here's a brief run-down on the player movement around the league, as best I can decipher it.

NELSON: sent F Brennan Foreman to Creston Valley for futures. They also traded F Connor McLaughlin to Fernie for futures (even though he's injured, looks to me like the 'Riders are adding him for the Cyclone Taylor Cup).

REVELSTOKE: snagged D Lucas Hildebrand from Grand Forks. The Grizz also lost F Riley Spraggs to the AJHL's Drumheller Dragons.

Walton Talks: I caught up with Rebels forward Stuart Walton, who last week was named Kootenay Conference Player of the Month for December. Hear that interview here.

Out of Town: The Nelson Leafs host Grand Forks tonight. The 100 or so people displaced by last week's Kerr's Apartment Fire in Nelson are all being offered free admission to the game, and I'm told fundraising efforts to add to the already impressive amount donated by the community will continue inside the building.

Bits & Bites: Rebels defenseman Darren Tarasoff will reportedly skip this weekend's All-Star game. No word on who will replace him though word is it won't be a Rebel. Nelson will likely be without goaltender Darren Hogg for the rest of the year after he suffered a leg injury Saturday night in Golden. No word on a return for Border Bruins forward Mike Brewer, who went crashing into the boards Thursday night in Kimberley, causing a lengthy delay. Kimberley also lost forward Ryan Georgopoulos, who went to Calgary to pursue his education. Former Leaf Mitch Labreche has signed with Victoria of the BCHL, he had been with Simon Fraser University (BCIHL). Former Rebel Keagan Little made his debut with Okanagan College (BCIHL) last weekend as well. Another former Rebel, Ryan Renz, was dealt in the BCHL trading frenzy Monday, twice! He went from Alberni Valley to Prince George, before being whisked away from the Spruce Kings by the Vernon Vipers. Renz has also been named on NHL Central Scouting's mid-term rankings released this week. The d-man is ranked 208th among North American skaters.